This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
Harley Race, an eight-time National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight champion and WWE Hall of Famer, passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 76 due to health complications.
According to his son Jason, who posted the news on his official Twitter account, Race had been suffering from lung cancer.
Jason described his father as 'the most genuine human being I know' and said he had been fighting until the end.
Harley Race was known for his exceptional grappling skills in the ring and was the first to wear regal robes and a crown after winning the King of the Ring tournament.
He overcame personal struggles, including a severe auto accident in 1961 that left him with badly broken legs, and went on to win his first NWA world heavyweight championship in 1973.
Despite being told he would never walk again, Race made a remarkable recovery and continued to dominate in the ring.
He was described by WWE as one of the most dominant wrestlers in the 1970s and early 1980s, and one of the few legends in the business to have won as many world heavyweight championships.
Harley Race is survived by his partner Rose and his family, who were by his side at the hospital in St. Charles, Missouri, when he passed away.
